Pipes are fighting!!!

[fishyvet]

I have kept a blue lined, Jannus, and alligator pipefish together in my 55 gal fuge for several months now. My LFS got new blue lined pipes in and I bought a male hoping it would pair with my current female blue lined. Well, following acclimation, he took to eating right away and swam up to my Jannus who bit him! The blue lined swam off and then my established blue lined came up to the Jannus and the Jannus attacked that one as well. I threw some cyclopeeze in to distract the Jannus and turned off the lights. They seem to be minding their own business for the time being. The Jannus and the blue lined had appeared to be friends before and they even used to share the same sleeping area and hunt pods together during the day. Since it hasn't been a relentless pursuit around the tank, I'm hoping everyone will settle down and the Jannus will accept the new addition. If it continues, I will have to dismantle the tank to remove the Jannus (who I've become very fond of) and either place him in the display tank or try to find him another home. I don't really trust my LFS to find an appropriate environment for him. Any thoughts on what's going on or how to stop it/how long it might last? Any one around Gainesville, FL possibly interested in a Jannus if worst comes to worst?

 

[lfduty]

it may take a day or 2 for thim to get to know the neew one i think the thay are like most fish if you have more than one of the same fish the out sider will fill threatend and will fight. I'v seen it befor in my tank's try puting a mirror in your tank for a day or two and see if that works for you.

 

[fishyvet]

I gave up I woke up this morning and the new pipe's tail was a nub and tattered to pieces. My Jannus was relentlessly chasing him around still. I rearranged every single piece of rock and added rock to try and make neutral territory. Several hours later, he was in hot pursuit of the little pipes still. I dismantled the tank, removed the Jannus and put him in my 210g display. He has found a cave he seems to like and ate when I added cyclopeeze. None of my other fish have taken any interest in him. My new little pipe is still hunting pods and, other than the tail, looks to be okay. Do pipefish tails grow back like regular fish? I am so sad my addition disrupted my tank so much. Any suggestions as to keeping my Jannus in my display would be appreciated.

 

[lfduty]

yes it will come back in time but watch it for deceases it is a wound and it will get infected and kill him. if he is still hunting and eating than he will pulethrue. e-mail me if thers trouble with im and i will see what i can come up with.

 

[fishyvet]

I am happy to hear that his prognosis is good! I run quite a bit of UV on my tanks for my ich magnets (mainly my PBT) in the main display so hopefully that will keep infection at bay. I really appreciate your offer to help me out if things head south, hopefully I wont have to take you up on it!

 

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

thats a beautiful pipe fishyvet, thanx for sharing a pik of him/her...